Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-28

Inc COrner-stOue Of n monument Duiy
Laid-Extracts from the Speech of the
Orator of the Day-Tremendous Enthusi-
asm of Confederate Vets over JEFF Davis
Tear and Cheers at Macon. a.
RICHMOND Va, Oct. 2S-Thursday was
the day set for laying the corner stone OF
the monument to Gen. r. f. Lee The
weather was very unpropitious-we and
gloomy, and greatly married the proceedings.
Despite this the people of the city and the
many thousands of visitors were early on
the streets, and by 9 O'Clock it was plainly
evident that Richmonds population for the
day was larger than on any previous occa-
sion. At an early hour the sound of martial
music was heard in every direction, and mil
itary, mounted and afoot, could be seen NOV
ing to their various positions, preparatory to
the formation of the procession.
Gen. G. W. Gusts Lee, owing to his recent
illness, was unable to participate in the
days ceremonies, but his brother, Gen. W.
H. E, popularity known as Rooney" Lee,
and Capt. Robert f. Lee We're here The only
immediate members OF the family are two
daughters, who are at present in Europe.
At few minutes before II O'Clock the pro-
cession began to move, headed by Gen Wade
Hampton, Governor Fitz Hugh Lee and
their stats. They We're followed by long
line. of militia and Confederate veterans, and
the display was the grandest ever seen in
Richmond. Dense crowds packed the side
walks along the whole route of march and
the enthusiasm of the people was most pro-
nounced
About the time the head of the procession
had reached the western corporate limits,
near the monument ground steady driZzle
of rain again commenced and continued so
that the programme was cut short by the
postponement of the reading of the poem and
delivery of the Grafton The cornerstone
however, was laid with all the impressive
Masonic ceremonies
The ceremonies were then adj iourned to
night, when before an immense audience
Col Chas Marshall delivered the address of
the occasion.
Col Marshall, in his remarks reviewed the
events that led up to the war from south
ern standpoint, the formation of the Confei-
crate government, the issuing of the procla-
nation by Mr.. Lincoln calling ont 1900
troops, and the work accomplished by Gen.
Lee in and around Richmond, and then
said:
1--WE are here to-day to honor ourselves by
doing honor to the memory Of the foremost
champion of that cause Ii we look for
moment at the result of the method of com
posing the troubles of the country in 1861,
adopted by Mr.. Lincoln do not think that
much encouragement will be found to resort
to it again. 1t is true that it abolished slav-
cry and removed the only serious cause
of dissension between the people of the
north and SOUTH but as | have shown, the
overthrow OF slavery was an accident of
the war, and not its object Its object was
the restoration of the cotton states to the
union, or, in the language of the proclama-
ton, to maintain the integrity and existence
OF our national union, and the perpetuity Of
popular government and to avenge wrongs
already long enough endured" The last
mentioned object, it must be owned, was ac-
cOmplished, whatever and however great the
wrongs to be avenged may have been 1t did
restore the cotton states to the union, but it
restored only the land and the wretched in
habitants of it Instead of maintaining the
honor, the integrity and the existence of our
national union, it destroyed that union, in all
but a territorial sense more effectually than
secession, by substituting conquered prov
inces for free states, and repeating in Amer
lea the shameful history of Russia and
Poland Instead of maintaining the perpe-
tuity of popular government it established
military government Instead of enforcing
the laws of the Union, it established over
nearly half the Union, military and martial
law. In fact arbitrary power and force have
proved themselves failures as agencies in es-
tabliShing or maintaining the true principles
of American government The actual re-
establishment of the Union with all the bless
ings We enjoy under it has come through
reaction against the power of force and des-
pOtism. The wave of arbitrary power, with
the public and private corruption that al
ways attend it, swept on for
many dreary years after the war,
until it began to lap against the
foundations of the independence of the
northern states. Then they found that to
hold the south in subjection to governments
imposed upon it by federal bayonets would en-
danger their own liberties, and the ad vancing
wave broke upon the good sense and patriot
ism OF the northern people. Then began the
work of restoring the union by means of
justice, good will, Cancellation, and fraternal
kindness, and they have done their work
we'll But the great mass of the southern
people believed, and still believe, that the
same agencies would have done the same
blessed work in 1861, before a dark river of
blood and tears was made to flow between
the people of the north and south
In closing Col Marshall said "The dignity
and grandeur of Gen. Lee never appeared to
greater advantage than on the occasion of
the surrender at Appomattox. Others have
described better than can his appearance in
the interview with Gen. Grant. Let NE say,
however, as the only Confederate witness of
that scene, that had Gen Grant and the of
ficers who attended him studied beforehand
how to conduct themselves SO as to spare as
far as possible the feelings of their illustrious
enemy and show their generous sympathy for
him in the supreme moment of his trial, they
could not have acted their parts better than
they did when they obeyed the promptings of
the noble heart of the true American soldier"
The ceremonies closed with the recitation
of a poem composed by James Barron Hope